BY MICHAEL JAMES
Laxman Amaratunga is something of a celebrity around Laurentian University these days.
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Laxman Amaratunga |
Amaratunga, or Dr. Lucky as he is affectionately known by his students, was recently awarded Laurentian?s prestigious 2003 Teaching Excellence Award.
As impressive as his credentials are, Amaratunga said he believes there?s more to being an effective teacher than having an outstanding academic record.
?Having a PhD doesn?t necessarily make you a good teacher,? he said. ?It?s not good to only have book knowledge.?
Born in Sri Lanka in 1943, Amaratunga emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1971, obtained an honours degree in mining engineering from the Camborne School of Mines, then later went on to earn his PhD in mineral processing from the University of Birmingham in 1978.
Two years later, he arrived in Canada with his wife and young daughter. After spending a year at the University of Toronto as a research associate, he decided to uproot his family once again and move to Labrador City, where he took up a position as a process engineer with the Iron Ore Company of Canada.
Then, in 1984, he joined Laurentian?s School of Engineering as an assistant professor in mineral processing and process control.
Promoted to full professor in 1993, he has since been awarded a Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) fellowship (1997), and the CIM Distinguished Lecturer award in 2000.
The possession of real life, industry specific knowledge and experience is, in his view, an extremely important component in the teacher-student equation.
Beyond that, Amaratunga believes a good teacher will always find a way to get through to his students. In his case, humour and the creation of a fun environment have proven a very effective approach.
That is not to suggest, however, that a teacher should stray too far from the fundamental engineering principles of science and mathematics.
?I have never deviated from the fundamentals. If you are using the calculator to solve an equation without a basic understanding of fundamental principles, you are nothing but a monkey.?
According to fourth-year extractive metallurgy student Amy Byers, Amaratunga brings an infectious sense of humour to the classroom.
?Some of his lectures are just hilarious,? Byers said.
She recalls one such lecture where he explained the excitation of atoms by asking the male members of the class to think about the way they tend to behave around, and interact with, their female classmates.
?With Lucky, his classes are always fun,? she said. ?We?re always involved...he?s constantly moving within the classroom...you can be called upon at any time, so you know you have to pay attention.?
Third-year extractive metallurgy student William Quesnel has taken three courses with Amaratunga so far, and he finds it?s been a really good learning experience.
?Dr. Lucky?s a pretty fair guy,? Quesnel said. ?He?s easy to get along with, approachable, always willing to talk to you, and he goes the extra mile.?
Quesnel has also worked alongside Amaratunga as a research assistant.
?He brought me along to a number of conferences,? he said, ?which is great, because I got the chance to meet people in the industry and learn new stuff. He?s very well-known in the industry.?
As much as he enjoys teaching, Amaratunga is quick to point out that he is more than just a teacher. He is also an internationally known research scholar, having published extensively in the areas of environmental aspects of the mineral industry, waste processing, solid-liquid separation, mineral processing and recycling.
He feels his research directly benefits his students.
?As soon as I discover something, I pass it on to my students,? he said.
?This way they can keep up with all the latest developments.?
